WORCESTER, Mass.-The Hobart College rowing team captured three gold medals at the National Invitational Rowing Championships on Lake Quinsigamond today. The Statesmen second varsity captured their third straight gold medal. The varsity and third varsity eights also brought home gold medals.
 
Since 2013, Hobart has collected 15 medals at the NIRC regatta including gold medals at each of the last four.
 
Racing in a finals only format, the Statesmen third varsity eight of Greg Narzikul, Joshua Hobika, David Krimmel, Dilan Bower, Steven Bunce, Lukian Maratovic, Kemal Turksonmez, Parker Cornman, and Andrew Seski started fast and pulled away from the field down the stretch to grab the gold medal. Bates and WPI battled down the entire course but the Bobcats edged the Engineers at the line.
 
Hobart covered the 2,000-meter course in a time of 6:06.4. Bates was second, over six seconds back, and WPI rounded out the podium with a time of 6:13.1. This was the Statesmen's first gold medal in the third varsity eight race and fourth overall at the NIRCs. Hobart's 3V has claimed silver medals in each of the last four regattas.
 
Both the Statesmen's varsity and second varsity eight had to qualify for the afternoon finals by competing in morning heats. The top two finishers in each heat progressed to the grand final, the next two to the petite final, and the last two to the third level final.
 
The second varsity was first on the water for Hobart. As two-time defending champions, the Statesmen were the top seed and slotted into the first heat in Lane 1 against Tufts, Bucknell, RIT, and UMass. Hobart surged to the front of the field early and won the heat. The Jumbos crossed the line second to join the Statesmen in the finals. The Minutemen finished third with the Tigers and Bison rounding out the field.
 
In the afternoon's grand final, Andrew Seta, Sam Ash, Anthony Giovenelli, Ben Robinson, Harrison Luce, Alberto Wray, Martin Roeck, Henry Vachon, and Miles Cornman competed against Bates, Coast Guard, Marist, Tufts, and Wesleyan for the gold medal. All six boats started strong and battled for the lead in the first 500 meters. In the middle 1000 Hobart kicked its stroke rate up and pulled away from the field. The Statesmen crossed the line with a time of 6:04.7. The Bobcats finished second, four seconds later, and the Bears rounded out the podium with a time of 6:11.6.
 
Silver medalists in 2015 and 2016, the Statesmen's varsity eight was the top seed headed into the regatta. In the morning heat, Hobart was paired with Williams, RIT, Colby, and Trinity. The Statesmen edged the Ephs by two seconds to claim the top spot in the grand final, posting a time of 5:55.1.
 
In the grand final, Julia Dexter, John Schenk, Austin Letorney, D. Griffin Marsh, John Hibbard, Julien Green, Matthew Sylvan, Patrick Overton, and Carter Weitekamp competed against Bates, the hometown WPI, Williams, Marist, and Tufts. Hobart and the Bobcats rowed bow ball to bow ball for the opening 1,000 meters. Dexter called for a move in the middle of the course that pulled the Statesmen in front of Bates for good. Hobart crossed the line at 5:59.1, two seconds ahead of Bates. The Engineers crossed the line third to claim the Bronze medal.  This was Hobart's first gold medal in the varsity eight since the Statesmen won gold in 2014.
 
Hobart will be back in action June 2-4, when it travels to Sacramento, Calif., for the Intercollegiate Rowing Association National Championships.